Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-06-28
A Great Question that is Coming to
the Front.
From Mr.. Depew's Grafton at Saratoga.

From Mr.. Depew's Grafton At Saratoga
Thirty years ago Macaulay wrote q letter
to an eminent citizen of this State, which car
ries to the reader the shock of an electric
battery. In il he declares that our institu-
tons are not strong enough to- stand the
strain of crowded populations and social dis.
tress, and that our public lands furnish the only
escape from anarchy. With the opening of
the rext century, thirteen years hence, they
will all be occupied. and at the first industrial
disturbance which throws large masses of
men out Of employment, we must meet the
prediction of the famous historian. If Ma
caulay had Witnessed the sublime response to
President Lincoln's call for troops tG sup
press rebellion and save the Union, it would
have cleared his vision and modified his judg
ment Nevertheless, the exhaustion of the
public domain and the disappearance forever
of the unbought homestead, present part of
Macaulay's problem. The RANKS of anarchy
and riot number no Americans. The leaders
boldly proclaim that they can come here, not
to enjoy the blessings of our liberty and to
sustain our institutions, but to destroy our
government and dethrone our laws, to cut
our tbroats and divide our property. Dissat-
isied labor furnishes the opportunity to
preach their doctrines and mobs to try their
tactics. Their recruiting officers are active
in every city in Europe, and for once despotic
governments give them accord and assistance
in securing and shipping to America the most
dangerous elements of their populations.
The emigrants arriving this year will out.
number the people of several States, and
of every city in the country but three,
and if some mighty power should instantly
depopulate Maine or Connecticut or Nebras
ka or Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit and New
Haven combined, with their culture, refine
ment and varied professional, mechanical
and industrial excellence and enlightened
government, and suddenly substitute these
people, we could quickly estimate the char
acter and value of this contribution to our
institutions and wealth The immigrants Of
the past have been of incalculable benefit to
q country which needed settlers for it's lands,
and skilled and unskil ed labor for its towns,
and among them have been men who have
filed and adorned the highest position of
power and trust. The officers of the govern.
ment report that there is a falling of of
over 70 per cent. of farmers, mechanics and
trained workers, and their places are occupied
b, elements which must drift into and de-
moralize labor centres already overlooked
and congested, or to fill the highways and
poorhouses. We do not wish to prohibit
immigration; our laws should be rixidly re-
vised so that we may at least have some voice
in the selection of our guests. We cannot
afford to become the dumping ground of the
world for its vicious or ignorant or worthless
or diseased We will welcome, as always,
all patriots fleeing from oppression, all who
will contribute to the strength Of our gov
eminent and the development of our re-
sources, and we will freely grant to all who
become citizens equal rights and privileges
under the laws aud in making them with the
soldiers who saved the republic, but no
more. There is room in this country fol-
only one flag, and "Old GLORY" must head the
procession or it cannot march.